Series types & formats · Core
Series
Also called: show, programme
ELI5
A television project designed to continue across multiple episodes.
Used in conversation
“The deck describes the project as a series; the episode examples need to prove that promise.”
Definition
A television or episodic project made up of multiple instalments connected by a continuing concept, world, characters or format.
Here “Series” means: A television or episodic project made up of multiple instalments connected by a continuing concept, world, characters or format. Other meanings are stored as separate sense entries and must be chosen explicitly.
Pitch context
You may encounter this in a series pitch, pilot process, writers' room or commissioning conversation.
Why it matters: Explains how series are structured, staffed, commissioned, produced and released.
Connected terms
- SeasonA series is the programme as a whole; a season is one run of episodes. In UK usage, “series” can also mean a season.
- Anthology seriesAnthology series is a narrower kind of Series.
- Case-of-the-week seriesCase-of-the-week series is a narrower kind of Series.
- Comedy seriesComedy series is a narrower kind of Series.
- Cumulative seriesCumulative series is a narrower kind of Series.
- Drama seriesDrama series is a narrower kind of Series.
- Episodic seriesEpisodic series is a narrower kind of Series.
- Event seriesEvent series is a narrower kind of Series.
- Hybrid seriesHybrid series is a narrower kind of Series.
- Limited seriesLimited series is a narrower kind of Series.
- MiniseriesMiniseries is a narrower kind of Series.
- Monster-of-the-week seriesMonster-of-the-week series is a narrower kind of Series.
- Ongoing seriesOngoing series is a narrower kind of Series.
- Prequel seriesPrequel series is a narrower kind of Series.
Sources & evidence · 12
Direct term-level sources and supporting source families.
- Directors Guild of America — DGA Creative Rights HandbookDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-14
- Film Independent — Episodic Lab Application and Project MaterialsDirect source · institutional · checked 2026-08-14
- Producers Guild of America — Producers Guild Code of CreditsDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-14
- Screen Australia — Story Documents: DramaDirect source · institutional · checked 2026-08-14
- Scriptnotes / John August — Pitching Television, or Being a Passionate WidgetDirect source · practitioner · checked 2026-08-14
- Writers Guild of America West — No Writing Left BehindDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-14
- Writers Guild of America West — WGAW Project PageDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-14
- Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) — Scripted Pitch Deck GuideSupporting source family · institutional · checked 2026-08-14
- Film Independent — Screenwriting and Episodic Program Application MaterialsSupporting source family · institutional · checked 2026-08-14
- Producers Guild of America — Producing Credits for Episodic Television (Scripted)Supporting source family · institutional · checked 2026-08-14
- Writers Guild of America West — Screenwriters HandbookSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-14
- Format Recognition and Protection Association — FRAPA Format ResourcesSupporting source family · institutional · checked 2026-08-14